Modesto Attractions
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Stanislaus County
Location and origin
Situated on the Tuolumne River, in the northeast of the San Joaquin Valley, Modesto has made a name for itself through its processing industry: conserve factories, dairies and slaughter-houses form the most important industries of the town, which has more than doubled its population since 1970. Its name can be traced back to a San Francisco banker, who "modestly" (Spanish "modesto") declined the suggestion that the town be named after him.
Modesto, established in 1870, possesses a row of Victorian houses dating from that time, a natural history museum (1100 Stoddard Avenue), a post- office decorated with murals from the depression years (1125 I Street), a museum of local history (1402 I Street) and a railway station built in the Spanish mission style, now used only for freight (J & 9th Street). A two-day balloon festival is held in the middle of September. In the immediate vicinity of Modesto are numerous lakes, offering extensive facilities for water-sports (Modest Reservoir, Turlock Lake, Lake Don Pedro). The town was also the scene of the well-known film "American Graffiti", the director of which, George Lucas, hails from Modesto.
Location and origin
Situated on the Tuolumne River, in the northeast of the San Joaquin Valley, Modesto has made a name for itself through its processing industry: conserve factories, dairies and slaughter-houses form the most important industries of the town, which has more than doubled its population since 1970. Its name can be traced back to a San Francisco banker, who "modestly" (Spanish "modesto") declined the suggestion that the town be named after him.
Modesto, established in 1870, possesses a row of Victorian houses dating from that time, a natural history museum (1100 Stoddard Avenue), a post- office decorated with murals from the depression years (1125 I Street), a museum of local history (1402 I Street) and a railway station built in the Spanish mission style, now used only for freight (J & 9th Street). A two-day balloon festival is held in the middle of September. In the immediate vicinity of Modesto are numerous lakes, offering extensive facilities for water-sports (Modest Reservoir, Turlock Lake, Lake Don Pedro). The town was also the scene of the well-known film "American Graffiti", the director of which, George Lucas, hails from Modesto.
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